2/29/08

Game Recap: Cardinals 5 -- Mets 4

Johan Santana made his first "start" as a member of the New York Mets, and quickly got taken deep by a man who has one major league at bat in 3 years.

Santana pitched 2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits. Juan Gonzalez, who has only had one AB in the majors in the last 3 years, took Santana deep with two runners on base in the first inning.

Johan, #57, Mets blue and orange. I can get used to that.
It's just so fitting for the Mets to acquire the best pitcher in baseball and have him give up a 3-run home run to a man that been trying to come back for three years, isn't it?
(Adam Rubin has Santana's mid-game post conference.)

Both Billy Wagner and Aaron Heilman threw perfect innings of baseball.
Nelson Figueroa, Joselo Diaz, and Ricardo Rincon each tallied a scoreless inning.
Duaner Sanchez also pitched an inning, allowing a solo home run to Albert Pujols to lead off the inning, but shook off the rust and completed the inning without any further damage.

Luckily, no one tried to lay down a bunt while Wagner was on the mound.
Great to see Sanchez back and feeling good. Goggles, how I've missed you.

Eddie Kunz allowed one run to score on 2 hits in the top of the 9th inning. Kunz struck out one.

Jose Reyes led off the game with a single, going 2-3 on the day with a run and an RBI.
Brady Clark, who is a non-roster invitee, played the entire game, going 2-5 with 2 singles and a run scored.

Unfortunately, I just don't see any room on the team for Clark, as much as I'd think he'd help the team.

David Wright went 1-3 on the day, driving in one run. Moises Alou also drove in one.
Ruben Gotay came in as a substitution, and added a solo home run in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Nice to see Gotay with some power. If he gets his shot this season, which I think he will since he is out of options, I'd love to see some power out of his bat along with some consistency of course.

(Doug Benc/Getty Images)